New Kerry coach McGahan expecting Tyrone to prosper in 2021

YOU could hardly make it up – an Armagh man who is part of the Kerry management team fancying Tyrone to make a huge impact when the playing season gets under way.

Jason McGahan is Kerry’s head of athletic performance and while strongly focused on his role with the Kingdom, he is keeping himself abreast of what is happening in his native county as well as assessing developments in Red Hand territory just “over the road”, as he puts it, from his family home in Tullysaran.

Having just been handed an enhanced role by manager Peter Keane, McGahan (right) will have a bigger input into Kerry’s overall match preparations as well as deploying his tactical acumen on match days.

An out-of-the-blue, last-gasp goal by Mark Keane saw Kerry’s goose cooked in last year’s Munster semi-final as Cork salvaged victory from the jaws of defeat before surrendering to Tipperary in the provincial final.

It was a harsh lesson for a Kerry side that had carried their familiar favourites’ tag into the game but right now McGahan is preoccupied with the future rather than dwelling on the past.

“While I am happy to be even more involved with Kerry, at the same time I think we have to be conscious of teams that will be a big threat to us this year,” pointed out McGahan.

“Dublin are still in the box seat but I am looking in particular at Tyrone. I feel that their new management set-up under Feargal Logan and Brian Dooher has been working very quietly but very efficiently behind the scenes and I believe the team will come to the fore this year.

“Tyrone have been building up their squad and they will be well capable of challenging Dublin.

“Obviously we here in Kerry will also be very keen to make an impact but I think it does no harm to be aware of from where other challenges might emanate.

“Our initial aim will be to try and regain the Munster title, we are looking no further than that. It is not going to be easy but the feeling is that we will have a stronger panel. What happened last year was disappointing but we have put that behind us now.”

McGahan has kept Tyrone under his microscope having observed how Peter Donnelly was drawn back into the fold as strength and fitness coach before double All-Ireland winner Joe McMahon relinquished his role with Fermanagh to resume duty as part of his native county’s management team.

The probable pairing of Conor McKenna and Cathal McShane up front, the emergence of the exciting Darragh Canavan and the raft of experience provided by players such as Mattie Donnelly, Peter Harte, Niall Morgan, Kieran McGeary, Niall Sludden and Darren McCurry convince McGahan that Tyrone can prove a major force when the action gets under way.

“I really see Tyrone as being a team on a mission,” insisted McGahan. “They have a good blend within their side and I have no doubt that the management team, given the depth of All-Ireland winners that it contains, will have them fired up. They will have everything to play for, that’s for sure.”

And McGahan also views Kieran Donaghy, the former Kerry player, as a valuable addition to the Armagh management team.

“I’m expecting Kieran to make a big impact with Armagh. Kieran McGeeney will have his side well prepared as usual and Kieran will bring that little bit extra to the table,” stated McGahan.

“Armagh will feel they have a big point to prove in the Ulster Championship in particular following their tame exit against Donegal last year and when you look at the way they have been included with Tyrone, Donegal and Monaghan in Division One Group North in the league, you just know that they will have to be on their toes right from the outset.

“The league is going to be very competitive and with the championship immediately afterwards, it will be all systems go.”